Watch: Mark Wood trapped Steve Smith in front after Lunch on Day one of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford. While the on-field umpire gave it not out, England got the decision reversed on review to get a crucial breakthrough.
You can bet on the 2023 Ashes with our Match Centre partners, bet365.
Australia batted with positive intent in the first session on Day one of the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester. David Warner flashed his way to 32 before he was nicked off by Chris Woakes. Smith came out and pulled aerially first ball and was almost caught on the fine leg boundary.
Australia went into Lunch with the score reading 107-2 after 25 overs. They went at more than four runs per over and England needed to put a lid on the scoring, especially after having decided to field first.
[breakout id=”0″][/breakout]
They did just that as Wood and Woakes started after Lunch and gave just nine runs in the first four overs. The first ball of the fifth over after Lunch by Wood was smashed by Smith through the off-side for four, but Wood had the last laugh.
The very next ball was angled in from wide of the crease. Smith had shuffled a long distance to the off-side and was hit on the pads. Umpire Nitin Menon gave it not out, but England went up in review and had their decision vindicated when ball-tracking showed three reds, forcing the on-field decision to be reversed and granting England a much-needed breakthrough.
Smith was looking set for another big one, batting on 41 off 51 balls, and England were rightly overjoyed to see the back of him.
Watch Mark Wood trap Steve Smith in front to provide a crucial breakthrough to England after Lunch on Day one:
Steve Smith… GONE! ❌
Mark Wood strikes after lunch and it’s a big one! ☝️ #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/4KGeJdrXec
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2023